Eid ul zuha 2011 celebrated with traditional fervour

NEW DELHI: Eid-ul-Zuha or the 'festival of sacrifice' was celebrated across the capital today with traditional fervour and gaiety as thousands of faithful flocked to mosques to offer prayers.

Muslims attended prayers at various mosques in the city and hugged each other as an expression of brotherhood.

Large gatherings were witnessed for morning prayers at Jama Masjid and Fatehpuri Masjid and people, dressed in their festive best, visited the houses of their friends and relatives and offered gifts.

While 1.75 lakh people attended the prayers at Fatehpuri Masjid, an equal number of people offered prayers at Jama Masjid.

Eid-ul-Azha is celebrated worldwide to commemorate the willingness of Ibrahim to sacrifice his son Ismael as an act of obedience to God.

The festival comes a day after pilgrims conducting Haj, the annual pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, descend from Mount Arafat. It is celebrated approximately 70 days after the end of the month of Ramadan.